We officially started operations last month!
To begin spreading awareness, we distributed about 3,000 flyers through the local newspaper, thinking I’d at least get a few inquiries… but to my surprise, not a single one came in. We definitely underestimated how tough it would be! 💦
After that, We decided to take a more hands-on approach and started walking around Shiomachi Shopping Street to introduce myself and my business. To my delight, some incredibly kind people offered to post our flyers in their shops. We were honestly touched by the warmth and generosity of the people here on Ikuchijima. Watching the sunset over the Shimanami Kaido after a long day, we couldn’t help but feel—this island is really something special.
Thanks to those efforts, we’ve gradually started receiving inquiries, and lately, things have been running almost at full capacity!
Of course, getting used to everything hasn’t been easy. Figuring out where to find all the property-related information and local regulations took a lot of time and research. Thankfully, the city office staff have been a huge help, and every day feels like a rewarding learning experience.
There are still a lot of bumps along the way, and we haven’t been able to post as many listings as we’d like, but we are planning to upload a lot more soon!
We’ve also been putting a ton of effort into Instagram, but our followers just aren’t growing… so if you’re reading this, please give us a follow and help us out! 🙏
Meet Ren-chan, the beloved mascot dog of Shiomachi Shopping Street!
My recent source of comfort has been fluffing up Ren-chan’s adorable curly hair — pure happiness.
We go for about a two-hour walk almost every day without fail, so if you spot us around, feel free to say hi!